Second arraignment over teenager's fatal overdose

A 19-year-old was yesterday charged with trafficking in heroin and involuntarily causing the death of a 16-year-old boy who overdosed on the drug.

Eric Zammit, of Tarxien, was the second person charged in connection with the teenager's overdose.

On Tuesday morning the victim's friend, who is also 16, was charged with trafficking in heroin and involuntarily causing serious injuries to the victim when he suffered an overdose on Saturday. By that time the victim was still alive. In fact, he died late on Tuesday afternoon, two days after he was admitted to hospital in a critical condition. Mr Zammit pleaded not guilty to trafficking in the heroin within 100 metres of a school or youth centre and involuntarily causing the teenager's death. Lawyer Emmanuel Mallia, for Mr Zammit, then made a request for bail.

Police Inspectors Nadia Lanzon and Anthony Cassar, prosecuting, objected in light of the serious nature of the crime. Inspector Lanzon said that, in a statement, Mr Zammit said there was a time when he frequently passed drugs to his friends and abused of the drug himself.

Dr Mallia argued that this was not a case of drug trafficking but drug sharing.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera denied the request for bail at this stage.